Want A Healthy Erection? Start With Healthy Teeth

Those looking to impress between the sheets may want to consider starting over the bathroom sink, according to a new study out of China.

Research published in the International Journal of Impotence (yes, there is such a thing) has revealed a surprising link between gum disease and erectile dysfunction (ED.)

Researchers found that men who have chronic periodontitis – which is an inflammation of the gums often caused by plaque buildup – are more than twice as likely to have a hard time getting it up.

They surmise that this is because the inflammation caused by gum disease can damage the blood vessels in your penis, meaning there’s not enough blood flow for an erection. Since the blood vessels in your penis are a mere one or two millimetres in diameter, they can become easily blocked by plaque.

It would seem men the world over could stand to pay a little more attention to their dental health; it’s thought that roughly one in 10 men suffer from ED.